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Lauren Jackson, Penny Taylor included in Australian Opals team for basketball world championships

Wed 12 Mar 2014, 10:09 AM AEDT

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Opals star Lauren Jackson has been included in the Australian squad for the world championships.

Sandra Mu: Getty Images

WNBA stars Lauren Jackson and Penny Taylor were among 33 players named to the Australian basketball squad on Wednesday as it begins preparations for the women's world championship in Turkey in September.

In February, the Seattle Storm announced that former MVP Jackson would miss the 2014 WNBA season due to right knee and left ankle surgery.

At the time, Basketball Australia said it hoped Jackson would join the national team by July.

Taylor, who returned to the Phoenix Mercury last season after a lengthy knee injury layoff, returns to the Opals after missing the 2012 London Olympics with the same injury.

Liz Cambage, Erin Phillips and Rachel Jarry are other former Olympians in the squad.

The world championship in Istanbul is scheduled from September 27 to October 5.